Oh My Goodness....

Oh my goodness....decorating for the holidays on top of finishing the rehab work has taken on a life of it's own as I try to get it all done in time for Santa!

As you can see, the outside lights adorn our castle and the inside tree(s) and decorations are going up at a fast pace amidst the plaster dust and plastic furniture wrappings.

We will be done, we will be done, we will be done by Christmas...is my manta. The old cabinets will have to be painted after the holiday season comes to a close because frankly, my painting hand is cramped and tired and itching to hold a drink in it so I can propose a toast to all of you.

The great celebrations of our 2010 year began with a trip to Kauai with wonderful friends, then onto our daughter's wedding in early March.

The storm front(s) hit in June with 3 tornados, lightening strikes, no electricity for 8 days, and finally the flooded basement and business offices.

We lost two friends this year, one was an old neighbor, she was "Mom" to many of us kids growing up, the other was a school friend's husband from the same era and neighborhood.

Lastly, we are ending our year and beginning another one on a high note - we just finished vacationing in Florida with the same friends we went to Kauai with in January and yes, we are still friends and had even more fun than the first trip.

Our final celebratory news of 2011 is that my husband and I are going to be grandparents for the first time with TWINS. Our daughter-in-law is due in the spring and is glowing! We can hardly wait! There is something "wonder"full about watching the circle of life move forward...

So as I put the finishing touches on the newly plastered basement walls as well as hang the ornaments - I am thinking of all of you and hoping that you get done what you think needs to be done and let the rest go so that you too, can catch a breath, make a toast and hug the ones you love.

The ornaments that decorate our lives are the people we hold near and dear to us...not the gifts, not the decorations, not the food - although a good homebaked cookie is hard to refute, and certainly not the stress that we put upon ourselves to get it all done by a certain date.

Wishing you all a blessed, healthy, happy getting it done kind of day!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Here's Where We Stand ......

Here is where we stand to date on the reconstruction of our offices - the asbestos floooring has been removed and we are currently painting the ceilings as we wait for the contractors to come back and remove the mold ridden drywall.

As you can see, none of my office equipment including my hard working desk top computer is hooked up or working. The lack of progress from the insurance company's contractor is making my brain do somersault's as I try to work around piles of furniture and mounds of books, papers, and assorted knick knacky things that we all tend to collect over a period of time - 38 years of "stuff" for us to be exact all hiding out in the garage, stacked in the extra bedrooms and towering high in the back rooms that were not waterlogged by the flooding.

As my frustration grows due to a lack of being able to hook up the phones, computer, take care of my website which is programmed on the desk top and not the lap top I wonder how many of my cusomers are trying to get hold of me ...... ;(

If you stopped here - which obviously if you are reading this you did, take note that Bugawumps will give you a whopping 20% OFF ALL UNmounted STAMPs through the 1st of November if you order off our website. REMEMBER - you can mail in the order if the phones aren't working!

I am going to hook up the phones today regardless of the condition of the offices and when and if the contractor ever shows up he can just work around them - enough of this waiting game!

I may even tear out the drywall myself and get someone else to install the windows if things don't start happening soon. Charlie didn't raise a fool who can't use a tool!

Sorry about the whining - I am not a girl who sits around and waits for things to happen - I am the girl who makes things happen.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that today someone will knock on my door and put a smile on my face with a truckload of windows, drywall, and some flooring.

Hope your day just went better than mine with the "SALE on STAMPS" that we are offering you for 6 more weeks!

Take care and stamp happy.....oh how I wish I had a desk and my ink pads.....I seriously need to play!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Flood Relief ? Seriously ??????

This past month and a half has been a real trip up for us at Bugawumps Rubber Stamps.

We came home from our July Conventions faced with a flooded basement due to high rains - 9 inches of water consumed our beautiful basement family room and art studio along with our workshop.

The wallpaper damage is only a part of the demolition - the floors are also being pulled up this week due to the fact that the insurance company tested them and they contained asbestos - so out they go.

Next week the real work begins - new walls, new windows, new cabinets, new paint, some new furniture and then putting back all the "stuff" that we had to take out and move to the garage for the men to work in.

I am, of course the painter, so once they are done next week, my job starts.

Therefore, because of all the upheaval and confusion, our offices will be closed from now until the 1st of October.

We will be happy to take your orders over the internet or phone (once it is reinstalled) but will not be able to process it due to a lack of computer/printing access.

Please be patient - we realize how important your hobby is to you and its therapuetic effects, but this is something that we could not have foreseen and want to make sure that when we manufacture, pack and ship your products, it is done correctly.

I will keep you posted on the progress as my laptop has at least that capability - my desktop is the one that does all the hard work!

Happy Bugday - hope it is a safe and sunny one!

Laura Anne and a very confused Bella Boo

Fall into Fun!

The full moon is all a glow through my misty windows as the crickets chirp a lullaby for those who are too young to know that the songs of summer will soon pass.

So as I try to fall asleep after a long day of painting woodwork and plastering the nail holes from photos of long ago I thought that maybe you might enjoy dreaming of making this card for a friend.

Stamp Free Fallin' = 191F onto a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of cardstock.

Mask the image with Liquid Masking Fluid (another name for this product is Liquid Frisket which can be purchased at your local Michael's craft store in the watercolor / acrylic department) by painting it in with either a q-tip or your stylis. Place a few drops randomly around the image. Let the liquid mask dry for at least 45 minutes = believe me it will be worth the wait! Besides, this gives you a break to either make dinner, pick the kids up from school, gab on the phone with a gal pal or even do the laundry = gasp!

Using a brayer and a Kaleidacolor pad in shades of red, orange and yellow, brayer in the background. If you would like to make your own rainbow colors with our wonderful Pan Pastels, this would be your chance! PS - they are on sale for $ 5.75 each through Aug. 31, 2011.

Peel off the liquid mask by rubbing your fingers over the dried masking fluid until it starts to roll up. If you have a rubber cement eraser, that makes the removal much easier.

Color in Free Fallin' and hold on to your leaf = your card is ready to be layered and sent out!

Easy, Breezy Fall Fun.

Have a wonderful tomorrow as I try to catch a few zzzzzzzz's before the sun comes up.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

"One in a Bugzillion"

Lately I have been thinking of the people in my life who have stepped outside their comfort zones and made or shall I say make good things happen for others.

You know the type, the neighbor who bakes wonderful cookies and then brings you a dozen = unexpectedly of course. The friend who makes you a tape of music that lifts your heart and has you dancing in the kitchen or dreaming of warm sunny beaches, or someone who rebuilds your life bit by bit with either wood, plaster, or sound advice.

These are the people who are "One in a Bugzillion" - so let's make them a card to say Thank You!

First, stamp our fun Large Squirm - 420C, as many times as you can on a 4" x 5.25" of white cardstock.

Mask all the images - I know it's alot of Squirms, but seriously, they are a breeze to cut out and well, really, isn't this special person we are making it for worth the trouble?

Brayer over ALL the images with a sponge brayer filled with a blue/green/turquoise rainbow pad. I love my Big and Juicy Waterfall pad but Kaleidescope has a nice pad with those colors in it as well.

Peel off the masks and color one Squirm with rainbow colors and the rest a lovely shade of yellow green shading in with a lime green.

Layer, Layer, and Layer after putting the original artwork on a piece of cardstock that is 5.50" by 8.50" scored at the 4.25" mark lengthwise.

Stamp in Our "You're one in a bugzillion" stamp - 7001E on the inside.

Add a few smiley faces if you like and sign it with love, admiration or a plain ol' "Thanks" and off to the post office you go.

Not only will it put a smile on the recipient's face, but yours as well.

After all, anyone thoughtful enough to make this card for their friend, family or neighbor is "One in a Bugzillion" themselves.

Happy Bugday!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

A Little Wet Behind the Years....

I am feeling just a little bit wet behind the ears, or should I say "years".

Two weeks ago another terrible storm went through our town and while we weathered it with electricity this time, our sump pumps failed to keep up with the 8.5 inches of rain that fell in less than two hours.

We woke up to two sump pumps gurgling under 9 inches of water in our family room and work rooms as 28 years of "STUFF" had already begun to absorb what we had not.

It is all "STUFF - just STUFF" .

I kept telling myself this as the bulging swirling stained waterlogged walls and curling of peeling wallpaper took on a new dimension of home decor.

I can't begin to tell you how quickly we found ourselves moving whatever we could up the stairs, off the floor, and onto counters as our carpets floated effortlessly above the crystal clear rain water as we held back our tears. We have never had a flood in our home these past 28 years.

We saved the new son-in-law's 20 year old comic book collection (25 large boxes), 2 slightly wet red leather chairs, tables, a sofa, lamps, and most of the trains (60 years of model railroad stuff), and all of my stamping "stuff". Most everything that was wet, has dried out fairly well with just a few wrinkles as reminders of how much we have to be thankful for.

The under currant of our family bonds became stronger as we lost books, cabinets, carpets, tiles off the floor, furniture and energy as we struggled to remove the calf high water we were wading through to save what we could.

What we lost was just "Stuff". What we gained - "A stronger family unit".

Our Children, Matt and his wife, Abra, along with Kris and her new husband, John, worked with their Dad and I for 13 hours hauling, vaccuuming, drying, and bundling up stuff to take to the curbside for garbage pick-up. No one complained.

We just held on hour after hour as we realized that it was just that, "STUFF". We still have our "MEMORIES". We still have our "HEALTH". We still have our "HOME". We still have "US".

For those of you, your families and your friends who have ever experienced great losses through fire, weather, abuse, violence or economic hardship, my heart and prayers go out to you tenfold.
This was hard enough - I can't imagine losing my home, much less my family.

As I look at damaged walls, the left over "STUFF" in disarray, I will try to remember this day, and make sure that my heart is always in the right place and my priorities oraganized accordingly - God, Husband, Kids, Puppies, Friends, Neighbors, etc.

And yes, to still have paper towels to hand out to those who may need them.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo - who thinks "Puppies" should come first.

Deep Fried

Life is good. The storms have subsided for a few days. The sun is out and the carnival is in town.

All the wonderful sights, sounds and smells!

Roller coasters, Tilt-a-Whirls, Ring Toss, Games of Chance and the Food - the wonderful combination of greasey sublime gooey goodness!

Carrie Newcomer (check her out on U-Tube), sings about the county fairs and all they offer. The fun, the lights and the imagination of those who can deep fry anything and make it sound good!

This is how I feel when I go to a convention and show you wonderful ladies our latest technique. I feel like a barker at the circus or a carnie with a show stopping daring twist of fate feat, when really all I am doing is using my Pan Pastels in a very simple way to achieve maximun color with minimum effort.

This Weekend Bugawumps will be in Novi, MI showing off "OUR" stuff and hoping that the crowds mimick those I saw at the carnivial tonight. For those of you who come, our Pan Pastels will be on sale for $ 5.75 each - a lower price celebrating our ad in RSM. For those of you who can't join us, the sale will continue on our website through Sept. 1st.

Add to that that we are also giving you a "DOG DAY" summer SALE - 10 percent OFF ALL STAMPS and you have yourself one very creative show stamping summer!

Feel the barker in me coming on again.......

Happy Happy Bugday!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Proud Moments

We are just back from the Colorado conventions, one in Longmont, the other in Colorado Springs and I am thankful that we withstood the daily torrential downpours, flooding in the streets and the lightening strike that took out the power in our hotel room.

None of that overshadowed the wonderful women who attended the conventions nor their generous spirits. I feel blessed that so many asked about the 3 Day Susan G. Komen 60 mile walk that my nephew and I did together for his mother, my best friend, in September almost 4 years ago.

Four special ladies, one who won our raffle basket as we were raising money for the walk, and three other ladies took the time to ask how it all went. To this day, I can't thank you all enough for making the "WALK" a possibility for my nephew and myself.

His mother was so proud of him that weekend - the twinkle in her eyes every time she surprised us at a rest stop was worth every mile and blister Charlie and I endured that weekend.

While his mother and my dear friend, Theresa, was not one of lucky ones who survived the disease, you gave her a wonderful gift, the joy of seeing her son do something "BIG" for her.

Bigger is better when it comes from the heart!

Once again, many thanks to the lovely ladies of Colorado for opening their hearts and their wallets to us that year and supporting us in more ways than one. You are all a "Gift" that Charlie and I will never forget.

Thanks for asking - it meant more than you will ever know.

Bugs and Kisses,

Laura Anne and of course, Charlie and our ever present, Bella Boo

Weather or Not......?

Memorial Weekend, the Springfield, MA Rubber Stamp Convention in the midst of cleaning up after a horrible tornado hit the city, my nephew leaving his wife of one year and three week old baby for his fourth tour of duty - this time in Kuwait, leaves me feeling sad as I head home to Chicago knowing that there is little I can do to change the conditions of what was, what is, and wondering what is to come.

We will not be attending the convention this weekend as vendors in West Srpingfield, MA. We chose to head home after hearing the terrible news and being told by the hotel management to change our plans as the roads were closed at the time we called them on Thursday morning to see what the damage had amounted to. The Expo Center was not harmed and the parking lot was accessible south of the city but still, as I watched the National Guard called in and the Red Cross show up, I knew that this was not the time nor the place for Bugawumps to be.

So we made the decision to turn back in Erie, PA and support those of you in West Springfield, MA by making a donation to the Red Cross on behalf of our customers who were directly affected by the the tornado. We needed to help those who suffered the loss of their homes, business, family, or friends with something more than a rubber stamp sale. We felt the need to give our support with a donation to the Red Cross instead of making a profit this weekend. We felt the need to help someone else.

We have attended shows in areas that had been hard hit by hurricanes and tornadoes in the past, Virginia Beach, VA and Houston, TX to be exact and the results were not good. So instead we chose to take the loss and use the dollars we saved by making a donation that would truly do some good for those in need.

For those of you who were hoping to see us in West Springfield, MA - we apologize and are offering ALL our customers free shipping along with 10 percent of the sale to be donated to the Springfield,MA Tornado Red Cross Fund if you place an order by phone or mail from our web-catalog between Friday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 12th.

In the meantime, prayers go out to all who understand that help is on the way and we are with you in spirit, hope, and faith for a better tomorrow.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo, Hubby, too

The Morning After

The morning after a big event or holiday leaves me thankful for my days of quiet routine.

While I love the hustle and bustle and all the hoopla that goes with a holiday, I love my normal boring to some schedule of nothingness that keeps me busy and leaves time for creative thinking. I am glad that my family has a simplistic attitude towards these "non" holiday days.

Mother's Day to me is one of those odd days - you may disagree with me after you read this and I realize I am one of few who think like this but to me, we should celebrate those we love every day. If you need a day designated by others that tells you to to tell your parent you love them, something is really amiss.

How did I spend my day - well, my family sort of celebrated the day before which always makes me happier by having an easy dinner and celebrating two birthdays together. We each recieved our prospective cards and the gift of enjoying one another. Teriyaki burgers, sweet potato fries, fruit and a homemade cake....paper plates, not quite, but certainly not the good china.

On Sunday, my son and his wife took a nice walk and then worked in their backyard while our daughter and her husband went to see a movie. My mother spent it with one of my brothers and his daughter's extended family. My husband and I took our sweet Bella to a dog park and sat on bench as she ran like the wind chasing the other puppies through the dandelions and tall grasses. Easy.... thankful......blessed with the knowlegde that we love one another and don't need the hoopla to prove it to one another.

Some would find this boring, but on this sunny Monday morning, I know that life doesn't get better than this.

As you walk through your Monday, remembering your Sunday, feel blessed no matter how you spent it. You are lucky enough to be here, to be able to hug, to draw, to stamp, to create whatever you choose regardless of who dictates what day is what.

Happy "Women's" Day Everyday!

Laura Ann and Bella Boo

Uggghhhhhh - and I don't mean the Boots.

Boots Anyone? The rain in our area has me wondering if thigh high wading boots will be a necessary part of my wardrobe on a daily basis.

The rivers are flooding the plains, the retention basins are spilling over into the parking lots, and the wooded pathways are freely flowing over with the dark waters from the lagoons bringing with it birds we very rarely see the likes of, because they too, are seeking higher ground.

Add to that a moral dilema that has me disappointed in someone I helped and trusted and I feel more than a little bit blue today if not soggy as well.

Bella and I will traipse through these rough days in hopes that everything that seems murky, dark and damp will shimmer and glisten in the sun's rays when it decides to show its face.

In the meantime, I think I will pull out my Pan Pastels and color my world a bit brighter in hopes that waters will soon reside and we can both go out and play in our garden of delight.

Hang on everyone, the life raft will be along soon......I promise.....

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Feeling Blessed!

We are home after a long but wonderful weekend at the "Adventures In Stamping" rubber stamp convention in Akron, OH. What a great crowd of ladies! Patient, kind, creative and inquisitive - always wanting to learn more about the art of rubber stamping and beyond. After 14 years of attending this show - our very first convention was in Independence, OH sponsored by "Wild Bill" and his delightful wife, Cindy Petal. We still feel "the love" from our first convention attendees. You are all like family to us. This is our second year carrying and promoting the creamiest of pastels - PAN PASTELS and the SOFFT TOOLS that go with them. We had all 80 colors and ran out of almost every color by 1 pm on Saturday....for those of you wondering we had 36 of each color color available. We figure that the northern portion of Ohio will look like a technicolor wonderland by the end of today if everyone who bought them opens them up and paints their little portion of the world in the next few hours. I am hoping that is a reality and not a dream as I know how much of what gets purchased at conventions never sees the light of day until I see you at next year's show asking me how to use it again! So my challenge for all our customers and convention attendees is to open your bags today ladies and start creating beautiful works of art! Thank you all Ladies for making us always feel at home and treating us like your family. We love seeing you and catching up on your families and telling you about ours as well. Until next year - color your worlds beautiful so we have even more to celebrate when come together again. Laura Anne, Bella Boo, and the Hubby too!

Every Day is Different

March- What a fun month. Every day is different!

One minute it is snowing, the next it is raining, then a rainbow appears out of nowhere.

Unexpected moments.....unexpected creativity....or just mass chaos?

Whatever your day has decided to be - let it unfold. Which is always better than folding the laundry!

Make sure that whatever happens today, you do something or share it with someone who makes you feel good about yourself.

The highs and lows of Spring, the highs and lows of life, the highs and lows of creativity swing in whatever direction we are pushed. So for today, I am going to push Bella and I towards "happy'.

How about You?

Swinging to our own beat,

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

The Rainbow's End....

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all my friends and family!

Here's wishing you a wonderful day of green bliss and a little magic at the end of the rainbow that fills your pot and your heart with gold goodness.

"You are ALL, one in a bugzillion" in my world!

Now, off to find a leprachaun or two with a shamrock shake in hand, a green ink pad on my work table and Bella as my guide.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Always Carry a Big Stick

My thoughts are exactly like Bella's on this warm sunny spring day - Be prepared and always carry a big stick .

Seems as though people pay more attention to what you are saying if you have a big stick in your hand or in your mouth as in Bella's case.

Life little moments seem harder to find and enjoy when you are talking on your cell phone or texting, the computer screen is flashing at you or your kids are crying for whatever it is kids cry for at any given moment. Add to this a spouse who asks you questions while you are on the phone or counting inventory and wants an answer immediately.

Bella and I slowed down today - we turned off the cell phone, tuned in to the sunny day and took a long walk around the basin by the river. The red winged black birds were singing to us as we strolled along; a frog was croaking solo and the Canadian geese were splashing in the high waters of the slow moving river. It was a wonder cacophony of sounds with a rhythm that soothed our souls.

Bella found her big stick and before long, all the other walkers and dogs stopped to discuss the size of her treasured "log" and the fact that she was determined to carry it the entire 1 1/2 miles around the basin. Bella is like that - once she has made her mind up about something, she sticks to it and finishes the job at hand. I like that about her - except when it is 10 degrees and damp outside and I am in my pajamas waiting for her. It was nice to have people stop and notice how hard she works at being a good puppy.

So in the same vein as Bella, I am spending my day with a stick in my hand. The difference between us is that my stick has a tad bit of lead down the middle and an eraser at the other end. I am determined to finish a certain project that I started not too long ago and hope that it has the results that make a more than a few people in my life smile.

Wishing you a slower paced day and a big stick to ward off the outside noises that make life complicated and someone who notices how important you are in their life.

Bella Boo and Laura Anne

It Was Perfect.

The bride slipped and fell on the icey chapel stairs just before she walked down the aisle to meet the groom.

Her brother caught her dress as she landed on the wet snow covered lawn. He saved the dress but could not save her shoes.

She laughed at his joke, limped into the church, and stepped forward to meet her groom as she held onto her father's arm as they both walked up the aisle.

Regardless of the broken shoe, the swollen ankle or the bleeding leg, she wasn't going to let anything ruin the day.

The groom held out his hand to meet her and took her arm. They both smiled at one another and life was perfect for that one moment.

In the meantime, one of the guests had stood up to see the bride as she came down the aisle and pulled a back muscle so badly that the pain had brought her to her knees. She held on to pew as she slid into her seat and white knuckled her way through the ceremony.

As the bride and groom exited the church, the minister stood on a pew and shouted "Is there was a doctor or nurse in the chapel?" and before the Kris and John had even reentered the chapel for pictures. an ambulance had pulled up and a gurney came in with three paramedics.

The bride and groom stopped everything, went over to check on their friend, hugged and kissed her as she was being wheeled out in tears. The bride told her not to worry, they were there for her and thankful that she was being attended to. The wedding festivities could wait until she was cared for properly.

While all this was going on, the maid of honors' husband, John - a past paramedic and now a fire chief had run to Target to get gauze, neosporin, bandages and Aleve for the bride and then attended to her as well. Thank heavens we didn't need his fireman skills as well!

Life goes on regardless of the curve balls that are thrown our way no matter how perfectly we plan our lives or our special days.

I am proud of my daughter and her new husband for the graciousness and compassion they had for their friend on what some would call "their day".

I am proud of my son for being the big brother his sister needed that very moment and thankful for the groom's brother -in- law who handed the minister three rings instead of two, his, hers and a super hero ring at just the right moment during the ceremony when the couple needed a light hearted moment.

At the reception, Kris and John danced the night away, cut the cake, called their friend in the hospital to make sure she was alright and their life began as husband and wife blessed by many more friends and family than we can count.

So, to my "Wonder"ful Daughter and her "Super"man, thanks for showing the world and me how to truly celebrate those you love.

Hugs!

Mom and Bella Boo

The Count Down Begins.....

The countdown has begun for the wedding.

All the little things that need to be finished await me every morning as the list grows longer and the days to the wedding get shorter.

The good news is that wedding will go on regardless of what is done and what isn't.

I don't fool myself - I am keeping my sanity and getting my sleep regardless of the list as I know things will go wrong and that this is the stuff good stories come from like "The Cookies from Hell" or "Gonzo's Tuxedo - The Long and Short of Shirt Sleeves".

I think my favorite wedding story is that of a friend who came from an extremely large family who had tricksters for bothers. The brothers took a permanent marker and wrote on the bottom of his shoes "SAVE" and "ME" unbeknownst to the groom, the bride or their parents. As the groom knelt down at the alter with his beautiful bride, the words appeared and the congregation let out a huge laugh while the parents let out huge gasps.

Needless to say, the wedding still went on and the couple is still as fun loving as ever.

My other favorite story is my son's wedding - he is a sweet heart and a tease as well and kept telling me we didn't need bows on the chairs down the aisle - it was a waste of money, time, blah, blah, blah.

Being me, I ignored him and forged ahead getting lost in mountains of tulle and ribbon. Ours is not a pretty church; it is a functional meeting space and I wanted my son and daughter-in-law to be to have their wedding as pretty as possible. As he and I walked down the aisle on a cold January afternoon, the setting sun beamed its golden rays through the high windows and the dust borne air particles sparkled down upon us, he grinned as he looked at me, his eyes twinkling and said, "You were right Mom, we needed the bows.". He and I had many other wonderful moments that night that are just between us, but you get my drift.

We make it as perfect for our children as we can and then let the flower petals fall as they may.

As the bride and groom get closer to their day, I will work towards it with love in my heart, tears in my eyes and a wish for them that their life together is as beautiful as their wedding day.

Hoping your day is full of happy memories and warm fuzzy thoughts.

Laura Anne and Bella Boo, the flower puppy

"Share the Love" card

Valentine's Day is fast upon us and there is more "Love" in mine and Bella's proverbial bowls than we can dish out.

So with this is mind and dinner on our minds, we thought this would be a fun card for you to share with someone who makes you smile and/or makes your dinner.

Stamp 599D - Fuzz Butt Bowl in the lower right hand corner of a 4" x 5" piece of white card stock. Using a Post-It Note, mask the bowl.

Stamp 600G - Large BG slightly to the left of the Fuzz Butt Bowl. Using pastels (we used our wonderful new line of Pan Pastels - check them out under the "CATALOG" tab, then "EXTRA STUFF" tab)
Sorry about the sales pitch - I got lost in the moment...

Take your Exacto Blade and slice through the upper portion of BJ's lip line. Do the same on the lower line of Fuzz Butt Bowl.

Cut out hearts or use sticker hearts and just slip them into the slots you just cut. Layer as many into the bowl as you would like. You could also stamp the hearts if you mask the images correctly.

The white stamped card stock is then layered onto a patterned scrapbook paper.

How did I incorporate the scrap paper into the card - well, lay your stamped card on the scrapbook paper and using a light blue colored pencil, trace the card very lightly onto the scrapbook paper.

Easy enough? Now choose the designs on the Scrapbook paper that you would like to appear on top of the card and using your Exacto Knife, follow the design on the inside of the rectangle from one end of the blue line to other end of the design, stopping at the the blue line. Do this a few more times at various designs around the blue lined rectangle. Erase all the blue lines and WA LA! You now have a slot to slip the stamped card stock into! Slick, Huh!

Sign it, Seal it with love, and off to the Post Office you go.

I am off to make dinner for Bella and her friends now.

Let the Valentine's Party Begin!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo wishing you a whole lot of love today and always!

"Two Points for You" and a Valentine too!

Valentine's Day is fast approaching and aside from staying away from the candy I am trying hard to finish all the wedding projects as well as make a few cards.

This one is perfect for all the ladies coming to the wedding who are undergoing the pain and agony of a dress fitting this week - myself included!

Very simple, very sweet, very current!

Stamp our "Waist Watchers" Charmin' onto a 3" x 3" piece of white cardstock. Color her in with your colored pencils or Copics. Less is more here :)

Stamp our "2 Points for You " on a scrap piece of white cardstock about 1' x 2.25" with either pink or red ink.

Stamp our 553-C Small Solid Hibiscus stamp on some white scrap cardstock and cut out. I colored on the stamp with one of my dark pink Tombo's and highlighted the edges with a nice orange or red Tombo.

Huff on the stamp and print!

Repeat this 3 times and cut out the image.

Just like winter in Chicago - a gal can never have enough layers, so layer all the pieces as shown above onto a 4.25" x 5.50" peice of cardstock. Sign and release those "Brownie" points out into the world via the US mail so that your girlfriends know you are thinking of them this Valentine's Day.

A sense of accomplishment is always so much better than a piece of chocolate - most days :)

Hugs to all!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

Show Me the "LOVE"

Valentine's Day is not always about pink and red and white or lavendar and purple, sometimes it is about being a true blue friend to those you care about.

So here is one of my favorite Bugawump cards to send out to my friends on Valentine's Day.

Stamp 346K - The Great Vine (only a portion of it) on the left hand side of a 4" x 5.25" of white cardstock.

Stamp 105F - Birthday Bug and 102F - Sweetie Pi under the sheltering leaves of The Great Vine.

Here's where you can use either Copics, Tombo's or colored pencils to color in your images. I tend to use a combination of both - first I lay down my marker color and then use my colored pencils for the shading. I just like that look better than the two dimensional look of the Copics.

Sponge in the background with Vivid's Sky Blue and enhance with a darker dye based blue around the edges. Lately I have taken to using my wonderful new Pan Pastels for the these types of sponged looked backgrounds, but since this card is from one of my original designs, I don't want to lead you astray but just suggest that maybe in the future you may want to pursue these chalks for your larger background color.

Stamp over the blue background with a star stamp (sorry, our cluster star stamp is no longer available) in the same Vivid Sky Blue that was originally used for sponging.

Layer, layer and then send it out to your favorite girl friend or sister or coworker....whatever!

Just don't forget to sign it with "made with LOVE" by yours truly "BUGCAUSE" everyone needs a little love in their hearts as well as their mailboxes this Valentine's Day!

Happy Bugday to All!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

There's A Little Elf in All of Us!

There is a little "elf" living in all of us. It encourages us to be playful, to laugh, to smile and most of all to surprise those around us when they least expect it.

Bella Boo is a good example of how to be spontaneaous. She never ceases to surprise me with her antics, her licks, her nose-on-my-nose confrontations. She makes me laugh at how silly life can truly be!

Three lovely ladies, one friend, one sister-in-law and one sister-in-law-to-be, are throwing a bridal shower for our daughter and her fiance this weekend. There will be plenty of surprises for the bride and groom even though the shower is not a surprise. How lucky the bride and groom are to have so many people care so much and want to help them get started in their new life!

Bella Boo is not invited to this event but has already planned on sending along a gift that she knows will make Kris and John smile. She is that type of puppy...always thoughtful! I just wonder how she will get those sloppy kisses in a box.....better yet, a tail wag or two and then a run around the table hoping for a game of chase!

Either way, this will be my week to finally sit down and stamp a few cards out. Play time for mom is harder to come by then play time for Bella Boo. I am so looking forward to the next few weeks with as much anticipation and joy as the bride and groom. I am happily the "mother- of -the -bride" and look forward to sharing my life and my dog with the groom as I become "a mother-in-law" for the second time.

As I see it, I have the four children I have always dreamed of ..... now I only hope I can be the "mother" or "friend" that they need and that all our lives are filled with laughter, love and a life full of happy surprises.

The "elf in me" wishes you a day wrapped in laughter and love as Bella Boo and I get our stamp pads out, our creativity and our groove on for the festivities to come!

Laura Anne and Bella Boo

A NEW YEAR Begins....

Happiest of New Years to ALL!

A bright and shiny 2011 has already begun even though I am still somewhat stuck in 2010 as I balance my checkbook and do inventory for upcoming tax season.

I will not let my checkbook get the best of me even if it takes me another week or so to get it off my 2010 "TO DO" list.

I am excited as my family enters the New Year - vacations, weddings, and new places on our convention shedule for 2011. What could be better!

Check us out and see what fun you can have with our stamps and the Pan Pastels that are hitting the stamping crowd by storm!

Best of 2011!
Laura Anne and Bella Boo